How To Get Better Gas Mileage

With gas prices fluctuating daily, drivers need to get the most out of every tank. And with simple fuel-saving tips, tricks and maintenance checks, you can learn to stretch your fill-up to the fullest.

Ditch The Clunker

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, fuel efficiency has improved as new, more efficient vehicles were designed over the past 10 years. Choosing a newer, more fuel-efficient vehicle can save you thousands in the long run, both in dollars and minutes spent at the pump.

Save With Safety

Making small safety changes to your daily driving habits adds up in your tank, your wallet and your well-being. Fast acceleration and hard braking lower gas mileage by up to 33% on the highway and 5% in a city, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Keep a lid on aggressive driving and travel with zen-fueled efficiency.

Drop The Excess Weight

Rooftop cargo containers are a great help on family trips. But these space-savers create wind resistance, which makes your car work harder and burn up to 17% more fuel on the highway. Excess weight in the trunk also sucks up fuel unnecessarily at a rate of 1% for every 100 pounds. Leave empty or unused cargo containers at home and clear out clutter for a smoother ride and steeper savings.

Minimize Winter Driving

Did you know your car is less fuel-efficient in cold weather? Warming a car takes a lot of gas and can drain your tank before you even hit the road. Most manufacturers recommend warming your car for just 30 seconds and driving off slowly rather than long, idling warm-ups. Try parking your car in the garage to keep the engine warmer and combine trips and errands in the colder months.

In your #1 tip titled “Ditch The Clunker,” not all your Geico customers can AFFORD to ditch their clunkers. Actually, the gas mileage on many, many cars reviewed in Consumer Reports [which I’ve been reading for 20 or 30 years] notes that many vehicles STILL don’t get AT LEAST 30 miles per gallon which SHOULD HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED for ALL vehicles BY 2000. So we’re 19 years behind schedule! AND we continue to ignore Global Warming
and drastic Environmental Pollution, thanks to our “caring” Congress and car makers.